David van Vuuren - and a lot of him

 As I've already demonstrated in my recent blog My Parents = Awesomeness, my Mom enjoys good variety of rock and pop musicians. So I thought it would be a fabulous idea to buy David van Vuuren's album "Free the Animals"  for her. Of course, before giving the CD over to my Mom, I had to check it for scratches, which required me to have a good listen to it. (Of course!) And of course, I was just salivating over the possibility of a good topic for a blog.

 Now, as you may know from a previous blog of mine (Oh, go on - read another one), I was a huge fan of Dave's during his competing in SA Idols last year. So as you may imagine, it was exciting to finally get my hands on this. To be honest, I'm somewhat befuddled by the album entirely. Completely befuddled actually.


  I heard the following three things:


1. A little bit of Coldplay: 
 This is undoubtedly a compliment; there is a significant trace of Chris Martin in Dave's voice and style. It's subtle, but definitely there, and while I personally feel that this style is a bit too "safe" for Dave's amazing voice, it does work for him, as far as being "commercial" goes.


2. A little bit of Johnny Cash:
 Yes, this is a surprise. In some of his slower tracks, David's low gravelly voice is strangely reminiscent of Johnny Cash. Now this, as far as I'm concerned, is both a compliment - because Johnny Cash was a legend in his own way - and a bit of criticism, because too much Johnny Cash can be... well, sobering, for lack of a better word. (actually, the better word is 'depressing', but that's hardly respectful to the legend himself) One can therefore be thankful that David injects enough life and soaring vocals into his songs to counteract and compliment the Johnny-Cash-effect. 

3. A lot of David van Vuuren:
 Simply put, David's got something unique that can not be compared to any other musician. There's something about his raw, emotional presentation of song that makes you feel like this beautiful stranger has just spilled his heart out into your soul, through his music. Despite the small musical flaws - of which there are a few - one can not help but feel touched. The exciting thing is that musical flaws can be improved upon... and then.... Greatness. 

 David van Vuuren was previously the lead vocalist in a metal core band called "Freedom For Your Life", which he started with a high school mate in Grade 11. To be frank - and perhaps I'm biased because of my love for hard rock - I would love to hear David get back to this genre, and it is my personal hope that in time he tries it. Even if he just dabbles in it. I guess I'd just love to hear him scream. 
 As SA's voted Idol, perhaps he is somewhat committed to 'play it safe' for a while...? Either way, my prayer is that he follows his heart, because that's where the music is. I have a feeling that no matter what David chooses to do, he will always have South African's behind him. 


 From what I've heard of the CD, I liked it. I think I could love it. I may even be having one of those sad "Aw-I-gave-it-away" moments.  This may call for another trip to Look and Listen.  Of course, the question remains: what did Mom think? Hmmm. 


Listen to some of David's tracks on his band's Facebook page here.

My Parents = Awesomeness

My parents are cool. I'm talking ice-ice-baby cool.

The first time I realized this was when my Mom and Dad went to see BonJovi live - I must have been in my early teens. I was in awe, total awe, of how 'cool' they were. And darn proud too.


You see, I've always grown up in a home filled with music, and good music at that. It's one of the things I have always been grateful for, and I can credit my passionate love for music to the home that I was brought up in.


 My mom has always had her rock music belting it out, and then in the next moment, she'd be playing a tricky classical piece on the piano. The diversity of music in our home was always astounding. So the BonJovi thing shouldn't have been such a surprise, but at that moment, in my mind, my fogeys went from being "Oh my gosh, parents are lame" to being "Oh my gosh, my parents totally rock, they're friggin wicked, my mom is a rock-queen, they're my hero, oh I could just die from the awesomeness!"

Something like that. 

It occurred to me recently that after all these years things haven't changed much. Unlike so many older generations, my parents aren't stuck on The Carpenters or Meatloaf or even BonJovi- and I wouldn't fault them this, as they are all amazing bands. But my fogeys are still with the times. Ok, so they're not quite into Lil Wayne or Black Eyed Peas, but who, in their right mind, would be anyway?

You see, the other day, my Mom excitedly told me that she has bought an album by Christina Perri. Christina Perri is mostly known for her track "A Thousand Years", played on Twilight's latest album from the Breaking Dawn movie. It's no rock song, but it's modern... and it's on Breaking Dawn. How much more 'with-it' can you get?

My Mom. 

Likes a Vampire song.

From Breaking Dawn. 

Have I mentioned how cool my parents are? 

Resurrection of a Lost World

When I was a little girl, I just loved to draw. I lived and breathed paper and pencils. When we went to church, and my Mom wanted me to keep still, she would let me sit on the floor, she would take out a little pad of paper (which smelled like fresh tissues, strangely enough), give me her ballpoint pen, and that was all I needed. I would go into my own little world, which existed entirely on that page, and was a world of ballpoint ink, a quiet world of my own making.


During the course of high school, I gradually lost my love for art, as it soon became a massive burden for me. Long story short, our art classes had me churning out sketches and projects like a machine, and I came to resent my talent. It has been approximately ten years since I seriously took pencil to paper and enjoyed it.


My doctor has now advised me that I need to take half an hour every day, to do something 'meditative', in order to truly relax. It doesn't necessarily need to be anything like levitating and going "ooohhhmmm", but the good doctor suggested yoga or art. Art? I instinctively recoiled at the idea. Sketching didn't sound relaxing to me, it sounded stressful, having to manufacture drawing after drawing...
How sad, that the education system stole this beautiful thing from me. How utterly infuriating.


So, I stole it back this week.


Sometime last year, I began this sketch in an attempt to resurrect my talents, but at the time, I still felt some turmoil about it all, and I gave it all up pretty quickly...

This week, I decided to try again, with a new agenda: Not to churn out an artwork, but to relax and enjoy some quiet time in my little world. Amazingly, it was a completely different experience. 


When I first started this sketch last year, I was just copying a magazine advertisement.I have subsequently lost the magazine, and so am pretty much just messing around with it. Could be disastrous, but only time will tell. The weird wavy sketching on the top of the page is actually a very flamboyant hat that was sitting on the head of a woman, whom you can just barely see in the middle of the page. I am so excited to get to drawing her, as she is one posh lady and I really enjoy a good portrait. 

So, it's really going great, and the cherry on top was that today I discovered some really ideal "sketching music". You know me: it's the music that makes my life so much more incredible to experience, and so I must share it. 


Today I plugged my iPod earphones in, and played the latest Florence and the Machine album, "Ceremonials". There is nothing that can really be compared to this band. The music is almost tribal, primitive, with an incredibly eery edge to it that I haven't heard since listening to Kate Bush's 'Waking the Witch'. (And you should hear that track in reverse, it is simply spine-chilling.) 


Florence and the Machine is a South London band. The lead singer, Florence Welch, possesses a most unique voice, reaching high notes with warbling tenderness, and in the next moment bellowing a powerful alto that brings goosebumps to my arms. I have to say that when listening to this album, I have the urge to dance around a fireplace, or dive into a ocean and swim until I'm surrounded by nothing but water and dolphins. Yeah, it's pretty strange music.


But exactly the kind of strange music that's perfect for immersing myself in my own world-on-paper. Some of my favourite songs....


Shake It Out
Strangeness and Charm
Never let me go


Hope you enjoy it - it's not everyone's cup of tea - but it's such fitting music, being the day-dreamy music that it is... I will share more, once this particular sketch is finished :) Hopefully it won't be a catastrophe!


Peace out!

Hidden Tastes, Hugs from Moms and Italians

I was feeling significantly weary yesterday morning, and I wasn't sure what to do with myself. Eventually, I had the urge to just chill out and put on some classical music. Chopin, to be precise. So I reclined on a pillow, hit the 'play' button... And remarkably, within 3 short songs, I was feeling "together". And somewhat cheerful.


Today, I was stuck in traffic, iPod plugged in, which is sometimes the only way to survive the hour-long trip home each day. My iPod consists mostly of heavy rock, punk and a pinch of metal - It's an aggression-release thing, don't ask. Somehow, an opera album has mysteriously found it's way onto my iPod - Andrea Bocelli, to be precise. Again, don't ask. Well, imagine, after 45 minutes of pure rock and roll, my iPod whops out a quirky Italian tune by Mr. Bocelli. And oh my... I felt so much better for it. 


Hrumph... Classical music and Opera... ??


Not something I've been interested in since I was a young girl, so quite a surprise, the effect it had on me. I suppose that having a professional pianist as a mother has given my ear an appreciation for the finer musical talents... and in hindsight, hearing the light-handed tinkles of Chopin yesterday had much the same effect as receiving a hug from my Mom. Just what I needed. 


As far as Andrea Bocelli goes, I only recall wanting to marry him when I was a teenager, so I can't speculate on what the deal is with that. But it was nice. 

Here's to hidden tastes, hugs from Moms and Italians! 

Steve Turner (who may or may not have been stoned)

When I was a teenager, my mom handed down a book of poetry that she had had in her bookshelf for many years. It’s a book called “Up to date” by Steve Turner, originally printed in 1976, my edition printed 1983.

 The collection of poems in this particular book provided me with hours and hours of amusement, as I read them and re-read them and re-re-read them. I always imagined that Mr. Turner was slightly stoned when writing his poems, as they are far from the ordered rhythm and rhyme of poetry that I had been exposed to beforehand. Sadly, as it turns out, he is a very respectable man, with several best-selling biographies, among other accomplishments – there goes half my amusement.

 I’ve been sick with flu for about 5 days now, and have been off work. Tomorrow I will be returning to the office, and to my real life as I know it. I thought it would be appropriate to send out a poem to all my fellow workers, about the substance that drives us all. 

 It motivates us to get out of bed each morning. It keeps our eyes open when we’ve had enough. It soothes and comforts frayed nerves, yet simultaneously kicks our minds into gear.

 Yes, this is a tribute to none other than that one legal addictive stimulant that many of us obsessively rely on: Coffee

White With Two Sugars (Please) – By Steve Turner

Coffee gives you

a legal shot of

energy when your

eyelids are feeling

down

Coffee kills time

when you’re washed

ashore on the streets

of London.

(Coffee can even

help rainstorms

disappear.)

Coffee is something

to dangle your lips

in when conversation

is scarce.

Coffee is a good

place to take a

new friend.

(Coffee is an excuse

to stay half an hour

longer)

Acquiantanceships end

on the doorstep but

friendships begin

with a coffee.

Coffee can be

appreciated by all

generations.

Coffee is a multilingual,

multi-racial, liquid esperanto.

Yes.

There’s something quite

religious about coffee.